Hospitality Design - December 2024 - 81

Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco
49ers. " We added a bocce court, pool table,
shuffl eboard, a bar, and a food service
component to draw the suite holders out and
create a social space for them, and it sold out
before the season started, " says Wesley Crosby,
senior principal and interior design director
at the fi rm. " [The client was] very pleased, and
we worked with their sales group to identify
what we thought might be appealing to the
consumers in that market. "
Moments of intimacy amidst the frenzy
The Homestretch Club at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
features The Final Furlong mural by artist Tyler Robertson
are also catching on. In addition to sensory
rooms for folks seeking reprieve, exclusive
experiential zones elevate visits for fans as
well. For such tourist draws as the Kentucky
Derby, a pair of new clubs conceived by
Populous at Churchill Downs horse racing
complex in Louisville, Kentucky, for example,
tout a window into the paddock that overlooks
the horses and jockeys awaiting to enter the
track. Custom brass elements as well as metal
ceilings lined with wood beams introduce
warmth into the space, while other material
choices are meant to withstand heavy usage.
" The natural marbles and stones are great,
but we ended up using quartzite, which has a
lot more resistance to staining, " Hansen adds.
" We're trying to fi nd beautiful materials that
are unique, but also
have durability. "
Crosby also cites the Levi's Stadium
Chandeliers add drama to the
Homestretch Club at Churchill Downs
The reimagined paddock area at Churchill
Downs restored much of its original character
project, where sense of place is manifested
in amenities dedicated to the region's famed
wine and a palett e of reclaimed redwood. " It's
less about a specifi c fi nish and more about
being authentic in our approach so that our
solution is rooted in the client, " he says.
F&B and retail vendors also help foster a
sense of community among locals. A food hall
with favorites from the nation's capital will
be a centerpiece of Gensler's refresh of the
Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, slated
to be unveiled for the 2027-2028 basketball
and hockey seasons. " If you're not local fi rst, "
Rivers points out, " then you're not designing
for the people who will ultimately be using it. "
Hansen agrees. " People are growing
accustomed to having those quality
experiences in their own communities, "
she says. " That's going to allow us to start
breaking the spaces down a litt le more. "
Perhaps most importantly, clients are
The Homestretch Club at Churchill Downs pairs
dark wood with locally sourced materials
receptive to the refi ned-and evolving-
demands of their fans. " The briefs we're
gett ing are more open-ended than in years
past, " Rivers adds. " It's exciting to see many
of the clients we're working with now are
willing to experiment. " hd
hospitalitydesign.com December 2024
081
Photos and renderings by TOM HARRIS and courtesy of BIG, GENSLER, and NEOM
http://www.hospitalitydesign.com
Hospitality Design - December 2024

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